Wallpaper and textile artist Kellie Menendez provides back where she takes inspiration. For the founder of San Francisco–based studio Half Whole, the organic world is a wellspring that feeds her modern day residence layouts.
Kellie MenendezAmal B Images
Prior to launching 50 {05995459f63506108ab777298873a64e11d6b9d8e449f5580a59254103ec4a63} Total, Menendez worked in advertising and marketing right after finding out fantastic art and illustration as an undergrad—the frequent denominator currently being storytelling. In 2014 Menendez was reworking her family members household in Sonoma County, a system that reinvigorated her artistic streak. “I imagined, you know, ‘I went to artwork university, I’m an illustrator,’” she tells Business of Property. “I was really enthusiastic to do it. Wanting at textile designers [like William] Morris and classic illustrators like Audubon, I was impressed. Then I just began producing artwork.”
Around the next thirty day period, Menendez produced nature-impressed designs, compiling preliminary sketches and concept art by day and studying Bay Place wallpaper printers at evening. By 2015, she had introduced Half Complete studio as a hand-drawn wallcoverings and textiles organization, named to evoke a constructive state of mind. The studio’s internet site went stay a year afterwards with her 1st layouts, which include Franz, a wallpaper motivated by the wildlife identified in the Franz Valley region of California.
In the drop of 2017, Menendez and her family misplaced their property to the North Bay Fires that ravaged greater Sonoma County. In the wake of the devastation, she donated proceeds from her initially print to the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue. “Franz was the first sample I introduced, and it was impressed by that household,” she claims. “After the hearth, the thought of building designs that give back again, [of] focusing on themes of endangered, wild elements, [emerged].” Ever given that, 15 {05995459f63506108ab777298873a64e11d6b9d8e449f5580a59254103ec4a63} of the proceeds from 50 {05995459f63506108ab777298873a64e11d6b9d8e449f5580a59254103ec4a63} Full’s “patterns with purpose”—Elephant, Holly and Simone—go to one of four nonprofits that assistance both wildlife or human rights.
Courtesy of Fifty percent Full
Menendez’s rhythmic designs use motifs from the pure planet, incorporating both equally plants and animals into high-close wallpapers and textiles. “We grew up with a whole lot of animals, so I have usually experienced a strong affinity [for] seeking at them, drawing them,” she claims. No matter if her issue is seabirds amid bubbles of ocean foam or the time-worn grid of an elephant’s disguise, Menendez’s types introduce an artistic contact to the partitions or pillows they deal with, often concluded with a featherlight touch of gold. In line with her wildlife-aware types, Menendez has usually held output area, doing the job with like-minded fabricators to limit her business’s carbon influence.
Menendez’s wallpapers, textiles and pillows are out there for buy via her web page, but from the outset, she has sought showroom illustration to reach designers. She found that showrooms supplied a assistance network that gave 50 {05995459f63506108ab777298873a64e11d6b9d8e449f5580a59254103ec4a63} Complete a strengthen early on. “In the commencing, I experienced a small house in the San Francisco Structure Center, and the neighborhood is truly strong right here,” states Menendez. “They definitely helped me—they launched me to people today and helped me get press and pics.” Quick-ahead to these days, and Half Full’s selection of wallpapers and textiles are offered by way of showrooms in West Hollywood, Denver, New Orleans, Chicago and New York.
Though Menendez looks forward to continued growth—she’s planning to introduce wall murals into Fifty percent Full’s assortment in the future—her company’s mission-pushed ethos won’t alter. “The styles I have made are influenced by men and women and destinations,” she claims. “And I want to continue on to give back to character and individuals.”
To study additional about Kellie Menendez, pay a visit to her site or observe her on Instagram.
Homepage graphic: Wallpaper and textile artist Kellie Menendez begins every single style and design with a handdrawn sample | Amal B Images
